Jernigan’s return could lift Eagles
PHILADELPHIA >> To tighten up the run defense teetering between pathetic and nonexistent, the Eagles are turning to a man who hasn’t played this season.
That would be defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan, returning from back surgery for a herniated disk sustained during an offseason weightlifting workout.
The Eagles took Jernigan off the reserve-nonfootball injury list and placed him on the active roster Tuesday. He practiced fully Wednesday and barring a setback, likely will play a significant role when the Birds oppose the Giants Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
“He’s cleared, he’s good,” Doug Pederson said.
While Pederson quipped that Jernigan would play
100 percent of the snaps, if healthy the veteran runstuffer could make a significant difference.
Jernigan was a key component in the Philly run defense that gave up a leaguelow 79.2 yards per game last year.
The Eagles are getting run through for an average of 101.4 rushing yards this year, a number that’s grown over the last three weeks, infuriating defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
The Eagles are allowing
4.7 yards per rush, significantly worse than the 3.8yard average from last year. The Eagles have allowed
100-yard rushers in backto-back weeks. Mark Ingram got 103 of the Saints’
173 yards on the ground in a 45-7 romp over the Eagles. The previous week, Zeke Elliott gashed the Eagles for 151 yards to lead the Cowboys to victory.
“We knew we would have challenges in coverage, we knew it was tough to get turnovers, we knew it was tough to get sacks,” Schwartz said of the challenges posed by Drew Brees and the Saints. “But we put ourselves scheme-wise in position to stop the run and we didn’t get that done for a second week in a row. I think that’s the most disappointing thing that came out of it.”
The Eagles have gotten very little impact out of Haloti Ngata, the 34-yearold veteran who has fought to stay healthy. He has one sack, although he’s probably the only one who remembers that it occurred in Tennessee against Marcus Mariota.
Last year Jernigan, 26, contributed 2 1/2 sacks, nine tackles for loss and eight quarterback hits in
15 starts. The Eagles signed him to a contract extension but reduced the deal after the injury.
The Eagles could be without linebacker Jordan Hicks (calf), one of their top tacklers, when they take on the Giants and Saquon Barkley Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. Barkley rushed for
130 yards and one TD in a loss earlier this season to the Eagles.
Barkley became the sixth NFL player to produce 1,200 or more scrimmage yards and 10 TDs in the first 10 games of a career. That list includes Elliott, Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk, Adrian Peterson and Billy Sims.
The Giants (3-7) have won two straight games after Odell Beckham Jr. predicted they would run the table.
The Eagles are favored by six points.
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The Thursday Eagles injury report was an estimation, according to team spokesman Brett Strohsacher.
The Eagles who did not practice were cornerbacks Rasul Douglas (knee, ankle), Sidney Jones (hamstring), Avonte Maddox (knee, ankle) and Jalen Mills (foot), linebacker Jordan Hicks (calf) and running back Darren Sproles (hamstring).
Elsewhere on the practice front, center Jason Kelce (elbow) and longsnapper Rick Lovato (concussion) were full-go.
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To make room for Jernigan, the Eagles released defensive tackle T.Y. McGill, who was claimed by the Chargers.
Thin at cornerback as well as the pivot, the Eagles signed defensive back Jeremiah McKinnon and center Anthony Fabiano to the practice squad.